Less than half of UK workers use GenAI tools at work

A recent survey by enterprise automation and AI software company UiPath reveals that less than half of UK workers currently use generative AI (GenAI) tools at work. Despite the push towards AI-driven productivity, only 47% of UK respondents reported leveraging GenAI in their professional tasks.

The annual Global Knowledge Worker Survey by UiPath, which engaged more than 9,000 workers globally, highlights that workers are experiencing the benefits of GenAI. However, adoption appears uneven. The survey notes that 45% of UK respondents are saving time on work-related tasks through the use of GenAI, with 35% saving between 10-25 hours per week. Nonetheless, these figures lag slightly behind the global average, where 48% report improved productivity with the technology.

Another significant finding from the survey is the high level of burnout among the UK workforce. A reported 28% of workers are suffering from burnout, with a large proportion expressing the desire for a change in their workload. Specifically, 62% of respondents believe they would benefit from a reduced workload, while 35% expressed the need for more time or bandwidth to complete their tasks. According to the report, automation and AI could play a role in mitigating these burdensome tasks that contribute to burnout.

Despite these potential benefits, the report underscores that businesses are not yet fully prepared to maximise the value of GenAI tools. One of the major hurdles is the lack of comprehensive AI policies and training. Nearly half of UK companies (49%) have not offered AI training to their workforce, which is slightly above the global average of 45%. Additionally, 28% of UK workers reported that their employers have not shared any information regarding the use of GenAI tools in their workplaces.

Trust in AI applications remains a significant issue. The survey details that 45% of UK workers do not trust AI applications, with the primary concerns being security risks (33%), accuracy of output (30%), and a lack of governance to ensure proper use (24%).

John Kelleher, Area Vice President, UK and Ireland at UiPath, commented on these findings, emphasising the necessity for proper training and trustworthy technologies. “GenAI tools present incredible opportunities for organisations to increase productivity and efficiencies, but employees must be provided with the proper training and upskilling opportunities to harness the full power of this technology,” he stated.

Kelleher added that for technology to be actionable and trustworthy, business automation platforms must serve as a foundational element. “The combination of these two technologies is a key differentiator for companies to maximise business value from GenAI and other AI models while empowering employees,” he said.

The survey also explored the combined value of GenAI and business automation. It found that workers using both technologies together reported increased productivity and better work-life balance. Specifically, 55% of those using both GenAI and business automation saved over 10 hours per week, in contrast to those using only one of the technologies (31% for GenAI alone and 33% for business automation alone).

GenAI applications vary across departments, but the most common uses are drafting communications (38%), brainstorming (34%), and summarising long-form content (30%).

However, readiness to fully leverage GenAI remains a substantial challenge. Only 44% of employees believe that GenAI has the contextual understanding of their business data needed to support processes and drive value. This perception increases significantly to 85% when both GenAI and business automation tools are used in combination.

The findings of the 2024 UiPath Global Knowledge Worker Survey suggest that while GenAI has the potential to transform business operations, significant barriers to its adoption and effective use remain. Addressing these obstacles through comprehensive training, policy development, and improved trust in AI applications could help organisations realise the full benefits of this evolving technology.